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news A7
Monday, April 3, 2017 guardian.co.tt
6.1500 6.6059 6.7793
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Resume hangings now
SHALIZA HASSANALI
Pauline Lum Fai, the mother of
Sean Luke, who was murdered 11
years ago, is supporting Prime
Minister Dr Keith Rowley's at-
tempts to bring back the hang-
man.
Overcome by emotions last Sunday,
Lum Fai broke down in tears at the Wa-
terloo Public Cemetery as she prayed
silently at the foot of Sean's tomb for
her son's soul to rest in peace.
Eleven green balloons were also tied
on one of the tomb's pillars by Lum Fai
in memory of Sean, who was taken from
her at the tender age of six.
Going to this burial ground every year
is one of the hardest things Lum Fai has
to deal with.
"It brings back fresh memories of
how my son was taken from me. It rips
my heart to pieces. That pain has never
gone away after 11 long, tormented years
... and it never will.
"To this day, I still feel empty inside
despite going through months of coun-
selling to overcome his death," Lum Fai
said on Friday.
"I still can't believe he is gone. Why
was he taken from me? Why?"
"Nobody knows how inside here
does feel," Lum Fai added, thumping
her heart.
"I can't forget nor forgive ... never!
The best part of my life was snatched
from me. I was in such a state at the
cemetery on Sunday the only thing I
was able to tell Seany was that mum-
my will always love him. If he was alive
today he would have turned 18 this
year... a big man. He was a beautiful
soul because he was not contaminat-
ed by friends."
Sean was found dead in a cane field
near his Orange Valley, Couva home on
March 28, 2006. He went missing on
March 26. His autopsy revealed he was
sodomised with a cane stalk and bled
to death. The discovery of Sean's body
sparked a national outcry.
Seated in her living room of her Couva
home, Lum Fai, a seamstress, admit-
ted that she still suffers and grieves in
silence.
From once being a buxom woman,
Lum Fai has withered from years of
mental pain and anguish.
"If I was not a praying person I might
have gone insane," Lum Fai admitted.
At times, Lum Fai said she blames
herself for Sean's death.
"I feel if I hadn't come back to Trin-
idad I would have still had my son. To
some degree I regret coming back. I
blame myself at times," said Lum Fai
who lived in America for a number of
years.
Lum Fai said she still wondered if
there was hope for T&T, as criminals
and gangs have taken over the land
and are instilling fear in the hearts and
minds of law-abiding citizens.
"People have become prisoners in
their own homes.This is not the country
I know. I don't think the Government
is doing enough to address crime. The
whole country is falling apart. There is
nothing in place. I am just scared for the
innocent people out there."
This is why Lum Fai said she felt
some what relieved last month when
she heard that Prime Minister Dr Keith
Rowley had requested the assistance of
former attorney general Ramesh Law-
rence Maharaj to ensure the death pen-
alty for convicted killers can be carried
out in T&T.
"I say bring on the death penalty. It's
time to resume hangings. I have been
praying for this to happen for years,"
said 54-year-old Lum Fai.
The issue, however, has received
mixed reactions from some quarters of
society. While some are for it, saying it
can indeed stem the tide of violence,
others are not, saying it is barbaric and
does little to prevent murders.
Sense of hopelessness
Due to the crime situation and up-
surge in murders, Lum Fai said she
seldom leaves her home.
"In the last few months our country
has turned upside down with the crim-
inal elements. They are doing what they
want because they know there are no
consequences to face when they take a
life. It's a trend now. Be prepared, the
time of tribulation is coming where it
is going to get worse than what is hap-
pening now," Lum Fai predicted.
She said even if a murderer is charged
by the police, the wheels of justice are
so slow that families of the victims feel
helpless and hopeless.
"These criminals are being main-
tained at the expense of taxpayers.
When they go to prison it's like a va-
cation in there. Do you think they feel
any remorse for what they have done?
I don't think so. They have to face the
hangman noose. This is the only thing
that would return our country to nor-
malcy."
Saying there was a breakdown in so-
ciety, Lum Fai pleaded with parents not
to let their children go astray.
"Society has gone to the dogs. The
mentality of people has to change.
Parents have to start disciplining and
talking to their children. Much of what
is going on today is being encouraged by
some parents. They see children doing
wrong things bringing home all kinds
of bling ... gold, money, drugs and even
guns and turn a blind eye."
Pauline Lum Fai, mother of Sean Luke, who was found dead in a cane field
near his Orange Valley, Couva home after he went missing in 2006.
PHOTO: NICOLE DRAYTON
Sean Luke's grieving mom urges PM
Members of the University of the West Indies (UWI)
Department of Creative & Festival Arts' unit perform
a scene from their production, 'Stick-ey Desires, A
soca Musical', directed by Louis Mc Williamson, at
the Learning Resource Centre, St Augustine, on
Friday. PHOTO: AYANNA KINSALE
SOCA MUSICAL